Some people just don't value the quality of defense that Smart provides. It's some of the best in the league. He is the best guard defender in the league. For this team, for this coach's system, Smart's defensive abilities make him near untradeable. For the money and the fit, Smart's value is some of the best in the league.
Joe Harris' ability to shoot doesn't make up for everything else that Smart brings that is better than Harris. More money to get a worse player. No thanks.
I agree that Smart is a very good defender. However, points allowed is a complex interplay of all five players on the court. To calculate how many points Smart is responsible for saving on the defensive end would be complex, but I am skeptical it would be more points than what a high efficiency offensive player would contribute....above what Smart's shooting would give you
Thought I would be nice enough to finish that sentence for you. Because that better efficiency might be worth a point or two but you lose 4-5 points due to Smart's passing and playmaking. So even offensively, Harris isn't as valuable as Smart. Defensively, I think Smart saves about six points more a game than Harris. So overall, I see no reason to trade Smart for Harris.
None of what you’re saying is backed by statistical evidence or fact, but I respect your opinion.
Actually, it is.
Fact: playing similar minutes, shooting similar amount of field goal attempts, shooting a similar amount of three pointers, Harris was only able to score 1.6 points more per game than Smart.
Fact: Smart had 2.8 more assists per game than Harris playing similar minutes. If you figure about 2.2 points per assist that's 6 points more that Smart has created over Harris. That 6 point margin easily overtakes any advantage the team would get from Harris' shooting.
Fact: As for defense, when you consider the advantage in blocks, steals, turnovers created, charges taken, passes deflected Marcus' point differential over Harris defensively is rather large. Smart will, by himself, minimum win you two games a year from key defensive plays. Harris has no such effect.